Absorbable metals have potential for making in-demand rigid temporary stents for the treatment of urinary tract obstruction, where polymers have reached their limits. In this work, in vitro degradation behavior of absorbable zinc alloys in artificial urine was studied using electrochemical methods and advanced surface characterization techniques with a comparison to a magnesium alloy. The results showed that pure zinc and its alloys (Zn⁻0.5Mg, Zn⁻1Mg, Zn⁻0.5Al) exhibited slower corrosion than pure magnesium and an Mg⁻2Zn⁻1Mn alloy. The corrosion layer was composed mostly of hydroxide, carbonate, and phosphate, without calcium content for the zinc group. Among all tested metals, the Zn⁻0.5Al alloy exhibited a uniform corrosion layer with low affinity with the ions in artificial urine.
Keywords: absorbable; corrosion; degradation; magnesium; ureteral stent; zinc.